Burnside Memorial Flags Update: Findings of National Interest

Here’s the update you’ve been waiting for! Several weeks ago, we moved six historic, hand-painted silk flags from the Burnside Building (Bristol, RI), to the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum for evaluation and conservation.

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This flag restoration has blossomed into a complex and costly project that will require hundreds of hours to complete (including research and labor from numerous individuals and organizations).

The Varnum Continentals are a private non-profit receiving no federal or state funding. We depend on donors to perform these critical but labor-intensive preservation projects. Please support us!

Acquiring the Burnside Flags in Bristol, RI

Having been housed at Burnside since 1883, the flags are believed to be associated with General Ambrose Burnside‘s American Civil War service. Although in poor condition, they can be made displayable again through a painstakingly tedious conservation process. We unfurled them for first time in many decades in early February 2020.

To help with this amazing project, Andy Santilli built a massive work table in the Varnum Armory’s new archival preservation space to give us the space needed to do the Bristol flag conservation project at the armory. Thank you! And kudos to the Town of Bristol for working with us on this important project.

Flags being removed from the Burnside Building.

Wrapped Burnside flags.

Maria examining the flags.

U.S. Civil War Memorial at the Burnside Building in Bristol, RI.

Flags under inspection at the Varnum Armory.

Next, we needed to carefully unfurl the flags.

Unwrapping the Flags for the First Time in Decades

Here’s where dedicated teamwork really starts to come into play! In addition to Varnum Memorial Armory Museum curator Patrick Donovan, we also benefit from the incredible talents of textile conservator Maria Vazquez and contractor/carpenter Andy Santilli. They have been doing incredible work to restore the Burnside Memorial flags that we recently picked up in Bristol, RI. Also on hand has been Brendan Synnamon, (owner of the Union Drummer Boy Shop in Gettysburg, PA), to provide an expert opinion.

These images show Maria carefully removing the flags from the suffocating plastic in a nail-biting procedure. Later, they were humidified before being unfurled for the first time in decades. That process will take place in our newly constructed flag conservation humidification chamber, designed and built on the fly by Andy Santilli.

Removing the Burnside flags the suffocating plastic.

Removing the Burnside flags the suffocating plastic.

Varnum Armory’s flag conservation humidification chamber.

At this point, we’re not the only ones interested in this amazing restoration project.

Documentary Filmmaking by Rhode Island PBS

As we got deeper into this project, it became obvious that we’d stumbled upon something so truly historic that it deserved more attention than many of our other exhibits. So, in steps Rhode Island’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to film the entire restoration project. The final product will absolutely be televised locally, but it’s also possible that this story will be televised nationally.

Maria Vazquez unfurling the historic flags.

Brendan Synnamon of the Union Drummer Boy Shop on camera with RI PBS.

RI PBS zooming in on an engraved finial of a flag pole dated 1687 and 1724.

Filming the unfurling of an incredibly rare flag from the 17th and 18th century.

Brendan Synnamon of the Union Drummer Boy Shop hard at work and on camera.

Jamie McGuire in his element as director for RI PBS.

And we’re happy to have them here, because it turns out that we may have findings of national interest.

Unfurling the Flags and Initial Findings

Now that they’re unfurled, we do have some big news!

1687 Nathan Byfield Flag

One of the flags appears to be a national treasure. It is a beautiful silk, gold-colored flag with its original pole and finial. Material culture experts believe this was made in the latter half of the 1600s, possibly a King Philip’s War-era flag. The finial is engraved on each side: “Gift of Col Nathan Byfield to the First Company of Militia” … “Capt Nathan Byfield 1687” … “For Bristol for the time being 1724”.

Having died in 1733, Nathan was a veteran of King Philip’s War, a member of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Co., and was one of the founders of Bristol, RI, among other things. The flag appears to be stained with blood. Much research is needed in addition to blood and DNA testing.

But, this may be the oldest flag from the Americas in existence.

Brendan Synnamon and Maria Vazquez preserving history at the Varnum Armory.

Silk gold-colored flag with it’s original pole and finial. Made in the latter half of the 1600s, possibly a King Philip’s War-era flag.

Tassles from a silk gold-colored flag with it’s original pole and finial. Made in the latter half of the 1600s, possibly a King Philip’s War-era flag.

Silk gold-colored flag with it’s original pole and finial. Made in the latter half of the 1600s, possibly a King Philip’s War-era flag.

Engraved finial of a flag pole dated 1687 and 1724.

Engraved finial of a flag pole dated 1687 and 1724.

Silk gold-colored flag with it’s original pole and finial. Made in the latter half of the 1600s, possibly a King Philip’s War-era flag.

DONATE TO HELP WITH THIS PROJECT!

You can help with this historic restoration project. The Varnum Continentals are a private non-profit receiving no federal or state funding. We depend on donors to help us perform these costly and painstaking preservation projects.

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Late in 2018, the family of East Greenwich, RI, native and World War I hero, Pvt. Jesse Whaley, chose the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum to be the caretaker of his uniforms and wartime personal effects (including a helmet and gas mask). A German grenade blinded Whaley at Battle of St. Mihiel in France on September 21, 1918.

About the Varnum Continentals

The Varnum Continentals are committed to the preservation of the historic heritage of our community, our state, and our nation. Please take a virtual tour of our museums to learn more about our mission to encourage patriotism. You can participate with us through active membership and/or philanthropic support in our non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Museum tours are welcomed and our facilities may be rented for suitable events.

Our Mission

The Varnum Continentals are committed to encourage patriotism through the Varnum Armory Museum, the Continental Militia, and the James Mitchell Varnum House and thus to preserve, support, and communicate the military history of our community, our state, and our nation.